carlson



H. G CARLSON. CHECK VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION F |LED FEB. 24. 1916. 1,310,606. I Patented July 22, 1919.

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CHECK VALVE FOB AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION 'EILED FEB} 24. 1916.

Patented Ju1 22, 1919.

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i $095M By UNITED STATES PATENT CEFIQE.

HJALMAR G. CARLSON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 ROCKWOOD SPRINKLER COMPANY OF MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CHECK-VALVE FORAUTOMAITIC SPRINKLER sYsTnMs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed. February 24, 1916. Serial No. 80,291.

To all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, HJALMAR Gr. CARLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Check-Valves for Automatic Sprinkler Systems, of which thefollowing, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. 2

One object of my present invention is to provide a check valve for automatic sprinkler systems capable of being operated to allow a free continuous passage of water upon the release of a sprinkler head, but unaffected by the periodic variations in pressure of limited duration, such, for example, as that produced by the action of a water hammer, whereby I am enabled to greatly simplify the apparatus now employed for producing an alarm upon the release of a sprinkler head and to render the action of the alarm mechanism direct and immediate upon the release of a sprinklenhead. An-

other object of my invention is to cushion the closing movement of the check valve and thereby prevent a sudden and violent contact of the check valve upon its seat. These objects, among others, are accomplished by the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims. a y

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a casing inclosing achamber having an inlet passage communicating with a source of water supply under pressure, and a second chamber having an outlet passage connecting said second chamber with the usual sprinkler system, y I

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the valve casing and connected alarm apparatus, shown in sectional elevation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in both Y Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes a casing having an opening on one side closed by incloses an inlet chamber 4 having an inlet passage 5, and a second or outlet chamber 6 having an outlet passage leading to a "system of pipes provided with sprinkler heads. The opening between the inlet chamber- 41 and the outlet chamber 6 is normally closed by a check valve 8 resting upon a valve seat 9, which is providedwith a restricted transverse passage 10. The check valve 8 is pivotally connected at its center with a lever 11, which is pivoted upon arod 12 held in the casing. The check valve 8 is capable ofbeing lifted from itsseat by the swinging of the lever 11 into the position indicated by the broken lines 13. In this position the upward movement of the valve is checked by means of an arm 14, extending from the upper surface of the valve, being brought into contact with a projection 15 ou the plate 2. The check valve 8 is provided at its edge with a short arm 16 carrying a valve 17-which rests upon a valve seat 18, whenthe check valve is closed, thereby closing the pipe 19 which connects the chamber 6 with analarm mechanism, shown in sectional View in Fig. 2, arranged to give an alarm upon the opening of the valve 17.

In the operation of the'apparatus water is admitted under pressure through the inlet passage 5, filling the sprinkler system, "when the normal pressure will be maintained in the inlet and outlet chambers 4L and 6. Any slight or gradual variation in pressure in the chamber 4: will be produced in the chamber 6 by means of the restricted water passage 10. The check valve 8 is, however, a differential valve in that the effective water pressure upon its upper surface is slightly greater than the efiiective water pressure upon its under surface, due to the difference in area of these surfaces subjected to water pressure. The check valve 8 is, therefore, normally maintained in its closed position.

In the practical operation of a sprinkler system,' however, a periodic increase in pres sure in the inlet chamber 4: is liable to occur, producing what is known as a water ham- 'n'ie'r, which is often sufficientto temporarily offset the difference in the effective water pressure upon the opposite sides of the check valve. The lifting of thecheckvalve, caused by the increased pressure due to a water hammer,woul d also lift the valve 17 and admit waterunder pressure to the -alarm mechanism. In order to prevent the alarm from being operated by a water hammer, *andiat the sameitime to allow it tobe operated by the opening of a sprinkler head, various mechanisms have been employed capable of being operated only by a' continuous flow of water of a predetermined duration. The closing of the check valve, caused by variations in Water pressure, is also liable to produce an injurious hammering action of the check valve upon the valve seat 9.

It is the object of my present invention to obviate the hammering action of the check valve 8 against its valve seat 9, and also to prevent the opening of the check valve by an increase in the water pressure in the inlet chamber 4 .over that in the outlet chamber 6, due toa water hammer. To accomplish this result, I form a supplemental chamber 20 at one side of the inlet chamber 4, but communicating therewith through a passage closed by a valve, comprising an annular flexible plate 21 clamped at its inner edge to a rigid plate 22, with its outer or free edge resting upon a valve seat 23. The valve 'seat 23 is provided with a restricted transverse channel 24 for the purpose of equalizing the normal water pressure between the chambers 4 and 20. The plate 22 and the check valve 8 are connected by a curved yoke 25, which causes the check valve 8 and the valve comprising the plate 22 and flexible annular plate 21 to be simultaneously opened and closed. The area of the plates 21 and 22 is greater than the area of the valve 8 within the valve seat 9. Whenever a periodic increase in the water pressure in the chamber 4 occurs, due to a water hammer, the pressure exerted to hold the plates 21 and 22 closed will be greater than that exerted to open the check valve 8. The check valve 8 will, therefore, be held upon its seat-9 and the valve 17 will maintain the pipe 19 leading to the alarm mechanism closed.

When a sprinkler head is released, the normal equilibrium of pressure between the chambers 6 and 4 is destroyed by the removal of the pressure in the chamber 6, due to the opening of the sprinkler head, causing the check valve 8 to be immediately opened to allow a continuous flow of water to the released sprinkler head. Upon the opening of the valve 17, pressure is immediately and directly applied in the chamber 26 of the alarm mechanism against a flexible diaphragm 27, upon which is mounteda block 28 beneath an electrical switch'lever 29, normally maintained in' a depressed position, as shown in the drawings, by means of a spiral push spring 30. The lever 29 forms one terminal of an electric circuit and the stationary bar 31 forms the opposite terminal. The electric circuit includes means for giving a suitable alarm which, in the present instance, is produced by a bell 32. The operation of the alarm is, therefore, instantaneous as soon as the valve 17 is lifted, and iscontinuous as long as. the flow of water through the outlet passage 7 is uninterrupted.

In order to prevent the violent closing of the check valve 8, I provide the plate 22 with a shell 33 provided with an interior flange 34, between which and the plate 22 the inner edge of the annular flexible plate 21 is clamped by means of bolts 35. The sides 36 of the shell 33 are beveled, so that the annular space between the shell 33 and the valve seat 23 is graduallyxreduced as the shell 33 enters the chamber 20. As the pla-te'22 closes, the shell 33 is carried into the chamber 20, forcing the water'therefrom through the restricted area between the sides 36 of the shell 33 and the valve seat 23. The chamber 20, therefore,,acts as a dash-pot to cause the gradual and easyclosing of the check valve 8 upon its seat 9. When the check valve is opened in the position shown by broken lines at 13, the plates21 and 22 and shell 33 are in the position shown by broken lines 37 and 38, and I provide the casingl with an interior projection 39 in order to deflect the incoming flow of water through the passage 5 beyond the path of the swinging plates 21 and 22.

The valve comprising the rigid plate 22 and the flexible plate 21 Iterm a counterbalancing valve in distinction from the check valve 8, as it counterbalances the @Water pressure exerted against the under side of the check valve 8, and prevents the check valve from being lifted by any perrod'ic lncrease in pressure, such as would be caused by a water hammer, while the shell 33, as its beveled sides 36 are forced into the closed chamber 20, serves to cushion the closing of the check valve.

The detachable side 2 allows free access to both chambers 4 and 6, for the insertion of the check and counterbalancing valves and their valve seats 9and 23. The interior projection 39 serves as a bafiie to protect the counterbalancing valve from the force of the water current when the valve is in its opened position, thereby rendering the c0unterbalancing valve sensitive to the static water pressure only in the chamber 4.

Both the check valve and the counterbalancing valves are provided with valve seats 9 and 23 but the contact of the counterbal' ancing valve with its seat is by the annular flexible plate 21, which is capable of yielding slightly, if necessary, in order to allow the check valve to seat itself, thereby avoiding the necessity of making accuratefitting between the valves and their seats 9 and 23.

I claim,

1. In a sprinkler system of the class clescribed, a valve casing having a water paspassage into inlet and outlet chambers, a

supplemental chamber opening into the inlet chamber, a counterbalancing valve closing said supplemental chamber, subjected to the pressure of the water in the inlet chamber at an angle to the plane of the check valve,

and a connection between said valves, whereby the closing of the counterbalancing valve will close the check valve and the opening of the check valve will open the counterbalancing valve, said check valve and said counterbalancing valve having restricted water passages normally open.

2. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a valve casing having a water pas sage therethrough leading from a source of water supply under pressure, a diflerential check valve dividing said casing into inlet and outlet chambers, a counterbalancing valve subjected to the water pressure in the inlet chamber in a plane at. an angle to the plane of the check valve, and a curved rigid connection between said valves.

3. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a valve casing having a water passage therethrough leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head,'a differential check valve dividing said casing into inlet and outlet chambers, said inlet chamber having at its side a supplementary chamber opening into the inlet chamber, a counterbalancing valve for closing said supplementary chamber, having a larger surface exposed to the water pressure of the inlet chamber than said check valve, a seat for said counterbalancing valve provided with a restricted water passage, and a curved rigid connection between said valves.

4. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a casing having a water passage therethrough leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a differential check valve dividing said casing into inlet and outlet chambers, a restricted water passage between said chambers, said inlet chamber having a closed supplemental chamber normally filled with water and opening into the inlet chamber and provided with a valve seat, a counterbalancing valve comprlslng a central plate rigidly connected with said check valve, and an annular flexible plate carried by said central plate and contacting with said valve seat.

5. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a casing having a water passage therethrough leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a differential check valve dividing the casing into inlet and outlet chambers, a supplemental chamber opening into the inlet chamber, a shell rigidly connected with said check valve and arranged to be carried into said supplemental chamber simultaneously with the closing of said check valve, said shell having beveled sides whereby the annular space between the sides of the shell and the sides of the supplemental chamber are gradually reduced by the closing movement of the check valve.

6. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a passage leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a check valve closing said passage, a counterbalancing valve rigidly connected with said check valve, and a projection serving as a baflie to divert the current of water from said supplemental valve.

7. In a sprinkler system, a passage leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a swinging check valve closing said passage, a supplemental counterbalancing valve, and a rigid curved connection between said check valve and said supplemental valve, whereby said supplemental valve is held in a plane at an angle to the plane of said check valve.

8. In a sprinkler system, a passage leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a swinging check valve closing said passage, a supplemental counterbalancing valve rigidly connected with said check valve and swinging simultaneously therewith, and a projection for diverting the current of water from the path of said supplemental valve.

9. In a sprinkler system of the class described, a casing having a water passage therethrough leading from a source of water supply under pressure to a sprinkler head, a differential check valve dividing said water passage into inlet and outlet chambers, a supplemental water chamber opening into said inlet chamber, a counterbalancing valve closing said supplemental chamber, said check valve and said counterbalancing valve having restricted water passages therethrough, normally open to admit water from the inlet chamber into the outlet chamber and into the supplemental chamber respectively when said check valve and said counterbalancing valveare closed.

Dated this 23rd day of February 1916.

HJALMAR G. CARLSON.

Witnesses PENELOPE GOMBERBAOH, NELLIE WHALEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

